LP crisis: INEC recognizes Abure leadership after court judgement

By Jude Opara

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has finally obeyed the court order compelling it to recognize the Julius Abure leadership of the Labour Party.
In a letter addressed to Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the Secretary of the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, invited the Labour Party to the fourth consultative meeting with the political parties.
It would be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier declared that the 2024 Labour Party national convention held in Nnewi in March was valid, constitutional and in line with all laid down laws in Nigeria.
In a judgement made by Justice Emeka Nwite, the court went further to compel INEC to grant due recognition and all privileges to the Labour Party’s National Working Committee as led by Barrister Julius Abure.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting with INEC on Thursday, the National Secretary of the LP, Umar Farouk Ibrahim said that though the party was unjustly excluded from previous engagements, he was satisfied that INEC has obeyed the court order and that the party has now resumed seat amongst the other 18 political parties.
He also said that with this development, the party is set for the rest of the political activities including the Anambra governorship election as announced by the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
He said, “With the issue of leadership now completely resolved, I urge every member of the party to rally round the Abure leadership. What transpired is only a family affair and we will as a family work towards restoring confidence to the party and every aggrieved or misled member of the party.
“The Labour Party will come back stronger but we need everyone to join in the process of rebuilding the paper. It is a no victor nor vanquish situation. We are all winners. The party is however supreme and every member must work towards achieving set targets of the party.”